·        E-mail

·        Mailing Lists

·        The Web

Ten Things You Should Do (That You Probably Aren’t Doing Already)  

1. Learn the ins and outs of the options and features in your e-mail and web browser software program(s). What aren't you using that might help speed up your progress online?
   
   

2. Pre-write your genealogical queries and questions about your brick walls. Have them ready to fire off when opportunity comes calling.
   
   

3. Learn how mailing lists work - what they are about, how to subscribe, how to post messages, how to unsubscribe.
   
   

4. Actively participate in an online project or mailing list. Find one small area where your personal expertise can help, then reach out and give that help to others.
   
   

5. Give full source citations, complete references (names, titles, publication dates, e-mail addresses, web addresses, physical addresses, etc.) and as many details as possible.
   
   

6. Remember that this isn't just a surname hunt. Names, dates, places and other specific details are all necessary to help track down your ancestors.
   
   

7. Maintain a research workbook and keep track of all resources that you use during your research. Make note of the date, the name of the resource, where you found that resource and what conclusions you reached after using that particular resource.
   
   

8. Organize your e-mail, your address book, your bookmarks/favorites and your computer files for genealogy into folders on your computer. Start with a folder directory structure as in this example:
   

   1st level folder:         Genealogy

       2nd level folder:    Genealogy\Surnames
           3rd level folder:  ....Genealogy\Surnames\ENGLE
           3rd level folder:  ....Genealogy\Surnames\NASH
           3rd level folder:  ....Genealogy\Surnames\SANDERLIN
           3rd level folder:  ....Genealogy\Surnames\THOMAS

       2nd level folder:    Genealogy\Localities
           3rd level folder:  ....Genealogy\Localities\Germany
           3rd level folder:  ....Genealogy\Localities\Ohio
           3rd level folder:  ....Genealogy\Localities\Pennsylvania
   

9. Don't believe everything you find online. Don't believe everything you find in books or on CDs. Don't believe everything sent to you by a friend or long-lost cousin. Do the research yourself and look at the original source records yourself.

10. Educate yourself. Attend genealogy conferences and seminars. Take online courses. Read through online tutorials and how-to articles. It is never to late to learn something new. You can never know too much about any one topic.